Already all the lids are raised, and none O'er them keeps watch." He thus in answer spake:
"They shall be closed all, what-time they here From Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring Their bodies, which above they now have left.
The cemetery on this part obtain, With Epicurus, all his followers, Who with the body make the spirit die.
Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon, Both to the question ask'd, and to the wish
Which thou conceal'st in silence." I replied:
"I keep not, guide beloved I from thee my heart Secreted, but to shun vain length of words;A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself."
"O Tuscan! thou, who through the city of fire Alive art passing, so discreet of speech:
Here, please thee, stay awhile.Thy utterance Declares the place of thy nativity To be that noble land, with which perchance I too severely dealt." Sudden that sound Forth issued from a vault, whereat, in fear, I somewhat closer to my leader's side Approaching, he thus spake: "What dost thou? Turn: Lo!
Farinata, there, who hath himself Uplifted: from his girdle upwards, all Exposed, behold him." On his face was mine Already fix'd: his breast and forehead there Erecting, seem'd as in high scorn he held E'en hell.Between the sepulchres, to him My guide thrust me, with fearless hands and prompt;This warning added: "See thy words be clear."He, soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot, Eyed me a space; then in disdainful mood Address'd me: "Say what ancestors were thine."I, willing to obey him, straight reveal'd The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow Somewhat uplifting, cried: "Fiercely were they Adverse to me, my party, and the blood From whence I sprang: twice, therefore, I abroad Scatter'd them." "Though driven out, yet they each time From all parts," answer'd I, "return'd; an art Which yours have shown they are not skill'd to learn."Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw, Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin, Leaning, methought, upon its knees upraised.
It look'd around, as eager to explore If there were other with me; but perceiving That fond imagination quench'd, with tears Thus spake: "If thou through this blind prison go'st, Led by thy lofty genius and profound, Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?
I straight replied: "Not of myself I come;By him, who there expects me, through this clime Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son Had in contempt." Already had his words And mode of punishment read me his name, Whence I so fully answer'd.He at once Exclaim'd' up starting, "How! said'st thou' he HAD?
No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye The blessed daylight?" Then, of some delay I made ere my reply, aware, down fell Supine, nor after forth appear'd he more.
It was a common opinion that the general judgment would be held in the valley of Josaphat, or Jehoshaphat.Joel iii., 2.
The wish-Dante's wish was to speak with the followers of Epicurus, of whom were Farinata and Cavalcante.
A shade--Cavalcante.
Guido, thy son had in contempt--Guido the son of Cavalcante Cavalcanti, a Tuscan poet, the friend of Dante.But being fonder of philosophy than of poetry was perhaps not an admirer of Virgil.
V.The Hypocrites.From the Inferno.
In the seventh circle, which is divided into three rounds, or gironi, the violent are tormented.The eighth circle is divided into ten concentric fosses, or gulfs, in each of which some variety of fraudulent sinners is punished.In the sixth gulf are the hypocrites.
There in the depth we saw a painted tribe, Who paced with tardy steps around, and wept, Faint in appearance and o'ercome with toil.
Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down Before their eyes, in fashion like to those Worn by the monks in Cologne.
Their outside Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view, But leaden all within, and of such weight, That Frederick's compared to these were straw.
Oh, everlasting wearisome attire!
We yet once more with them together turn'd To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.
But by the weight opprest, so slowly came The fainting people, that our company Was changed, at every movement of the step.
I staid, and saw two spirits in whose look Impatient eagerness of mind was mark'd To overtake me; but the load they bare And narrow path retarded their approach.
Soon as arrived, they with an eye askance Perused me, but spake not: then turning, each To other thus conferring said: "This one Seems, by the action of his throat, alive;And, be they dead, what privilege allows They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?"Then thus to me: "Tuscan, who visitest The college of the mourning hypocrites, Disdain not to instruct us who thou art.""By Arno's pleasant stream," I thus replied, In the great city I was bred and grew, And wear the body I have ever worn.
But who are ye, from whom such mighty grief, As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?
What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?""Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,"One of them answer'd' "are so leaden gross, That with their weight they make the balances To crack beneath them.Joyous friars we were, Bologna's natives; Catalano I, He Loderingo named; and by thy land Together taken, as men use to take A single and indifferent arbiter, To reconcile their strifes.How there we sped, Gardingo's vicinage can best declare.""O friars!" I began, "your miseries--"
But there brake off, for one had caught mine eye, Fix'd to a cross with three stakes on the ground:
He, when he saw me, writhed himself, throughout Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.
And Catalano, who thereof was 'ware, Thus spake: "That pierced spirit, whom intent Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees Counsel, that it were fitting for one man To suffer for the people.He doth lie Transverse; nor any passes, but him first Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.
